BRAINERD ROTARY Doug Dahlquist 1995-1996

  (75)  Doug A. Dahlquist
1995-96

Officers of the 1995-96 Brainerd Rotary Club year were the following; President:  Douglas A. Dahlquist .  Vice President:  Mike Moran; Secretary-Treasurer:  Don Rasmussen;  Directors:  Katherine Herold, Gene Patch, John Luce, Bob Meyer, Wayne Little and Bill Wrigley.

Two events dominated our year.

1.   Our member, Hanspeter Borgwarth, served brilliantly as District Governor of District 5580.  He visited 64 clubs in Ontario, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota.  When he was not traveling, he reported to us on the activities of Rotary in our district and around the world.  Our own Rotarians served as his support staff, acting as editors, publisher’s financial officers, etc.  Hanspeter’s wife, Gisela, was his companion and driving assistant during his travels.  Their sacrifice and dedication to the ideals of Rotary inspired us all.  Dennis Doucette from our club served as Governor’s Representative and received the award for Outstanding Rotarian in the District.

2.   Our Club served as host club for the District Conference May 3-5, 1996 at Madden’s Resort, East Gull Lake.  Co-chairmen for this huge undertaking were Jack Ruttger and Dick Endres.  All of our club members were registered for this event.  About thirty of our members met in monthly planning sessions throughout the year.  The District Conference was a smashing success with over 860 registrants.  John Fitzpatrick and Arlene Fitzpatrick worked overtime as Chairpersons of Registration.

These two events dominated our year, but we accomplished much else as well.

Through voluntary contributions, we raised $4,300.00 for the restoration of the Beaulieu House at Crow Wing State Park.  Earlier, Rotarians had raised $3,200.00 for this project, so we were able to present a check for $7,500 to the State Park Service.  The Beaulieu House is the oldest remaining frame dwelling north of the Twin Cities in Minnesota.  Einer Anderson and Bill Blum served on this committee.

We raised $6,300 by means of a huge garage sale in April.  This amount was presented to the local Brainerd Rotary Foundation for use in various local youth projects.

Our club qualified for the Rotary International Presidential Citation for Excellence. Our club was Runner-up to Bemidji for Outstanding Club in the District. Our club added 18 new members, losing 13 for a net gain of five.  Membership as of June 30, 1996 was a total of 122. New members included Don Ryan, Bernie Roscoe, Chris Ruttger, Len Brown, Linda Hanson, Paul Means, Paula Persons, Barb Anderson, Gary Pearson, Donald Lorsung, Mike Burton, Richard Hartman, Mike Overton, Tom Neuverth, Scott Mitchell, Donald Porter, Steve Bardolph and Glenn Anderson.  

Two outstanding Rotarians died during the year, Jack Swanstrom and Pete Humphrey.  We mourn their passing.  We learned also of the death of Axeman Ralph W. Sears, Montevallo, Alabama on February 14, 1996.  This year we sponsored two incoming foreign exchange students.  Mathilde Estivin came to us from France.  Patricia Pizarro came to us from Chile.  Both are delightful young women who have added much to our meetings and to our community.  

Eleven members were honored for perfect attendance.  Peter Johnson now has 22 years perfect attendance.

The club recognized three members of the community for distinguished service.  On October 31, 1995 we honored our own member, Sally Ihne, former President of Brainerd Community College who was promoted to become first President of the new Central Lakes College after ten years of outstanding service to the Brainerd educational community.  On March 19, 1996 Rotary International President’s Award for Outstanding Service to Families and Community was presented to Ms. Julie Steiff, Brainerd psychologist active on the child protection team of Crow Wing County.

On June 11, 1996 we honored the twelve winners of the Volunteer-of-the-Month Award and gave a special award to Volunteer-of-the-Years, Lee Gunsbury Seipp.

Five members became Paul Harris Fellows during the year.  Two members became Benefactors.

Our club hosted a Group Study Exchange team from Turkey during the weekend of the District Conference.

Outstanding this year was the work of our Sergeant-at-arms, John Forrest.  He entertained us all each week with good-natured humor in collecting $1500 in fines, to be distributed to local charitable projects.

1995-96 was a good year for Brainerd Rotary.  The District Conference and the example of Hanspeter Borgwarth inspired us all to a deeper commitment to Rotary.  It was work, but it was fun and very rewarding to those who participated.

The year ended with a Change of Gavel Party at Grandview Lodge in Lakeshore.  We met on the same grounds where 75 years earlier we received our original charter, July 8, 1921.  Hanspeter delivered the Anniversary Address.  The gavel was handed over to the new President Mike Moran who will provide leadership for 1996-97.

07/03/2008